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Brief Description

The Brief Group Counseling intervention is a group-level counseling and skills training intervention for homosexual API men. The intervention, delivered to groups of approximately 8 men, consists of one 3-hour culturally tailored session with four key components: (1) development of positive self identity and social support; (2) safer sex education; (3) promoting positive attitudes toward safer sex; and (4) negotiating safer sex. HIV transmission facts and correct use of a condom were presented. An interactive game is used to discuss risks associated with different types of sexual partners. Participants also engage in group discussion about negative experiences associated with being API and with being homosexual, feelings toward safer sex, as well as ways to build support around their self image and personal strengths. The participants build safe-sex negotiation skills through role play and demonstrations.

Theoretic Basis

Health Belief Model

Theory of Reasoned Action

Social Cognitive Theory

Intervention Duration
One 3-hour session

Intervention SettingsCommunity-based agency

Deliverer
One highly trained, paid intervention coordinator and one community volunteer with 6 hours of training

Comparison Group
The wait list control received the intervention 3 months later

Relevant Outcomes Measured and Follow-up TimeSex behaviors during past 3 months (including number of sex partners and having any unprotected anal intercourse) were measured at 3-month follow-up.

Participant Retention

Intervention:

73% retained at 3 months

Control:

88% retained at 3 months

Significant Findings

Intervention participants reported significantly fewer sex partners than control participants at the 3-month follow-up (p < .001). This significant intervention effect was also found among the sub-sample of men with 0-1 sex partners at baseline (p < .05), among men with ≥ 2 sex partners at baseline (p < .01), and among Chinese and Filipino men combined (p < .01).

Among Chinese/Filipino men, intervention participants were significantly less likely to report unprotected anal intercourse compared to control participants at the 3-month follow-up (p < .05).

ConsiderationsThe intervention effect on unprotected anal intercourse was not found to be significant for the overall sample or for the diverse sub-sample of API men who were not Chinese or Filipino. The intervention’s most consistent effect was on reduction in the number of sex partners.